Lent 1: Deuteronomy 26:1-11; Romans 10:8b-13; Luke 4:1-13
February 21, 2010
You don't have to go far to be reminded of how strong and dangerous temptations can be today. Just pick up the newspaper and read.
"MAN CRASHES PLANE INTO IRS BUILDING IN TEXAS!! UPSET OVER TAXES!!
"UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR SHOOTS 3 COLLEAGUES TO DEATH AFTER SHE IS DENIED TENURE."
No one likes taxes, but it doesn't make sense to kill yourself about it as well as others who are innocent bystanders. And no one has absolute job security either. Many lose jobs when the factory closes, the economy goes into recession, or when they get sick and are unable to work. But the vast majority don't start killing about it.
These are extreme examples, but the roots of these desperate acts go back to small beginnings, perhaps to a general unhappiness about life nurtured over a long period of time. They go back to thinking that the value of your life is what you earn and what you achieve. How many sleepless nights are spent tossing and turning in worry about how to make ends meet, pay off debts, save for college and retirement. How many families argue about finances and the things money buys. How often do we look at what others have and how they live and want to be like them? We live in a world today that defines success in material terms. Most never go berserk, but the same unhappiness can be there.
Jesus could have chosen a worldly path too. As Son of God he could have the best career, highest salary with big bonus, and all the comforts and pleasures money could buy. But he also knew that this is not what God wanted him to do. His role was not to be top dog, but to show that life is more than how much we work and earn. His role was to show that happiness and true fulfillment doesn't depend on how much we earn and have. His place was show the world the way to God.
And so, he says 'no thanks' to the devil's temptation to turn stones into bread and adds: "It is written, 'Man does not live by bread alone.'" - from Deuteronomy 8:3.
Reading on now: Ex-Governor pleads not guilty. (No surprise there.)
Another ex-Governor seeks clemency from the President.
These are just the tip of the iceberg of so many others who used their authority for personal gain and glory and have fallen from grace. To paraphrase Lord Acton: "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
Jesus could have sought the powers and authority of this world. In fact he had the most important credentials because as was thought he was related directly to King David through his earthly father Joseph. Many popular expectations about God's Messiah were based on premise that he would be a descendent of King David. Jesus fit the criterion. But he also knew how so many kings had failed before him and how flawed most of them were. His place was not to be the king, but to show others how authority is to be used justly and responsibly by serving others and obeying God.
Being an earthly king was not what God wanted him to do. And so again he says 'no way' to the devil and besides: "It is written (Deuteronomy 6:13) 'You shall worship the Lord your God and serve only him.'"
Finally there is the letter this week to Dave Ramsey on the business page of the State Journal Register. If this were not so sad and true it would be funny.
Dear Dave, I've been playing the lottery a bit lately. I'm a Christian, and I was wondering what your views are on this. We've been struggling financially, and it seems that a chance to win millions is worth a buck or two. Your advice and opinion on this would be cherished."
And Dave writes back: You're kidding. Do you really want my opinion?..Basically, you've told me that you're having money troubles, and at the same time you're throwing money out the window. ….That buck or two … represents a lot of financial irresponsibility in your life… Well consider that you're more likely to be hit by lightening five times and survive than you are to win the lottery. Five times! You're not going to win. Think I'm just being negative. I'm being positive. I'm positive you're not going to win! …As a Christian do you believe God thinks this is a good use of your money."
Financial irresponsibility like this is just another way of jumping off a high place and thinking because you are Christian you will land okay and be better off with millions. As Son of God Jesus could have chosen to be a spectacular Superman kind of Messiah to attract attention and the spotlight. But again it was not his role to show off, but rather to help others work through their problems with faith and hope and love. And so again he says 'no way' to the devil and adds: "Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" -Deuteronomy 6:16
A much better use of a buck or two would be to give it to the community of Beason that is starting a fund drive to create a memorial playground as a tribute to the slain children of the Gee family. Even a small gift to this will last a lot longer and create a better future for many others.
Or do something like Jesse Sullivan from Petersburg just up the road. He has been living in a tent in Washington, D.C. during one of the worst winters on record to help raise money to provide emergency shelter for the people of Haiti. Here at SUMC we have contributed a little over $2000 to UMCOR for earthquake relief efforts. Altogether the IGRC has given over $400,000 to UMCOR.
We could all have used this money to pay off debts, save for college, and other worthwhile projects. But throwing it out the window was not an option. "Man does not live by bread alone." Jesus came to show how to give, to love, to care for one another. That's what eternal life is all about.
The temptations of Jesus in the wilderness are still around today. And it is obvious that we still need help to handle them. We feel desperate when the economy is down. We are tempted to look upon human leaders as our gods and saviors to bail us out. False religion tempts us to believe we are not subject to the same laws of gravity as everyone else. God will protect us even when we are foolish and go against common sense.
The temptations are ancient, but we have the benefit of someone who has been through them all. The scripture says that 'Jesus was in every respect tested as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, we can approach his throne of grace boldly to receive mercy and find grace in every time of need.' (He 4:15-16)
When we find ourselves in desperate situations we often feel alone and that nobody cares. But Jesus shows that we are not alone. The scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit was with him. God's Word was with him. God himself was there. That's what we need to remember too. When we are desperate God is still there. He is there in combination with the Spirit and the Word.
Obviously he didn't carry a bundle of big scrolls around on his back out there in the wilderness. But how did he carry God's word? He carried it inside, didn't he. It was in his heart. Previously he had read it, studied it and memorized a lot of it. And he also learned how to apply it. Like when the devil quotes from the Psalms to tempt him to jump off the temple. But Jesus knew the essential message of God's word so that he could weigh the tensions there. He learned what to say and when to say it.
If God's Word provided guidance and strength to Jesus when he was hungry and famished, then how much more do we need it to help us to face the struggles in our lives today. Jesus knew his scripture. Do we know ours?
One the 3 Simple Rules of John Wesley is to observe the ordinances and these include among others, prayer and regular reading and study of scripture. Imagine then that in addition to picking up the newspaper to read every morning that we also would pick up the scriptures to read as well. If we did, we would be a lot better prepared to handle all the bad news in this hand (newspaper) with the good news in this hand (scripture).
Many may already follow a regular pattern like this. If you do great, keep it up. If not, however, let me suggest that even 10 minutes in the morning spent reading the bible would enable you to read all 4 gospels before this coming Easter. If you spent 20 minutes a day reading, you could read them twice and be well on the way to being able to carry God's word within you throughout the rest of the day. You will not only be a better person for this, your faith and hope will grow stronger too.
More than anything the temptations of Jesus in the wilderness set an example for us to follow. He knew his scripture. And if he needed it, then how much more do we need it when we face uncertain days of trial and testing?
And so in the morning in addition to or maybe even instead of picking up the newspaper, pick up God's Word and start reading. Jesus knew his scripture out there in the wilderness. Do we know ours? It can only help if we learn to carry it in our hearts.